Melbourne Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins has urged the AFL Commission – which meets in Brisbane on Friday – not to schedule a game on Good Friday next year “just for commercial considerations”.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting at which the move is to be considered, Bishop Huggins said the AFL’s tradition of not scheduling a game on Good Friday had been appreciated by people of faith.
“The Cross of Jesus has inspired compassionate and sacrificial lives and profound art,” he said. “It has also comforted millions in times of trauma. Hence the wise 2000-year tradition of keeping the day quietly.”
More than 2,000 Melbourne Anglicans signed a petition presented to the AFL earlier this month saying they would be greatly saddened by such a change and calling for the AFL to restate its respect for Good Friday and tradition.
Bishop Huggins said it was as “plain as day” that there is no need for more football games to be scheduled over the Easter weekend. “Of course, marketers and media are again spruiking a new opportunity, but they would be kicking against the wind to claim this as necessary, when there are games already on Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Monday.”
Earlier this week, The Age newspaper reported that the AFL Commission, chaired by Mike Fitzpatrick, “now has the numbers” to push through a Good Friday game and that a game was expected to be scheduled at 4pm on the day.
~ www.melbourneanglican.org.au/Pages/Anglican-Diocese-of-Melbourne.aspx
